Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
67 (1981), 270-83.
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dency," Quarterly journal oj Speech, 66 (1980), 11926; Jef D. Bass and Richard Cherwitz, "Imperial
Mission and Manifest Destiny: A Case Study of Political Mytb in Rhetorical Discourse," Southern Speech
Communication journal, 43 (1978). 213-32; and
Michael C. McGee, "In Search of 'The People': A
Rhetorical Alternative," Quarterly Journal oj Speech,
61 (1975), 235-49. Others among the many studies in
which scholars examine the relationship between rhetorical discourse and socially constructed reality are
in Sport Sociology: Contemporary Themes, ed. Andrew Walter R. Fisher, "Reaffirmation and Subversion of the
American
Dream," Quarterly journal oj Speech, 59
Yiannakis et al. (Dubuque, !a.: Kendall-Hunt, 1976),
p. 35. Originally a paper presented at a symposium, (1973), 160-67; Michael McGuire, "Mythic Rhetoric
"Sport, Man, and Contemporary Society," Queens in Mein Kampj. A Structuralist Critique," Quarterly
journal oj Speech, 63 (1977), 1-13; Martin J.
College, 10 and It Mar. 1972.
^Huizinga has identified the world one creates while Medhurst, "American Cosmology and the Rhetoric of
Inaugural Prayer," Central Slates Speech journal, 28
playing as a reality that exists outside of wbat be has
(1977), 272-82; Bruce E. Gronbeck, "The Rhetoric of
designated "normal" time and space. Many of his Political Corruption: Sociolinguistic, Dialectical, and
arguments supporting the concept of play as a reality Ceremonial Processes," Quarterly journal oj Speech, 64
differing from the reality of the world with which we (1978), 155-72; Thomas B. Farrell, "Political Conveninteract most of tbe time can also be applied to the tions as Legitimation Ritual," Communication Monoathletic contest and the world of sport itself. Johan graphs, 45 (1978), 293-305; and Martha Solomon,
Huizinga, Homo Ludens: A Study oj the Play Element
"The 'Positive Woman's' Journey: A Mythic Analysis
m Culture (1938; rpt. Boston: Beacon Press, 1955), pp. of the Rhetoric of Stop ERA," Quarterly journal oj
1-27. See also Kenneth L. Schmitz, "Sport and Play: Speech, 65 (1979), 262-74; W. Lance Benett, "Myth,
Suspension of the Ordinary," in Sport in the Sociocultu- Ritual, and Political Contro\," journal oj Communicaral Process, ed. Marie Hart, 2nd ed. (1972; rpt. Du- tion,30 {\')aO}, l-tT).
buque, la.: Wm. C. Brown, 1976), pp. 35-48. Originally in Sport and the Body: A Philosophical Sympo'Set Gilbert Morris Cutbbertson, Political Myth
sium, ed. Ellen Gerber (Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, and Epic (East Lansing, Micb.: Micbigan State Univ.
Press, 1975), p. 2. See also the distinction between
1972); and Alan G. Ingham and John W. Loy, Jr.,
"The Social System of Sport: A Humanistic Perspec- sacred myth, ideology, and political myth offered by
tive," in Sport in the Sociocultural Process, 2nd ed., pp. Bass and Cherwitz, pp. 213-19, and Fisher, "Rhetorical Fiction and the Presidency," pp. 119-22.
244-69. Originally in Quest, 19 (1973), 3-23.
'"Cited by Michael Novak, The Joy oj Sports: End
Ernest G. Bormann, "Fantasy and the Rhetorical
Vision: The Rhetorical Criticism of Social Reality," Zons^ Hases, Hasftets, Sals, and Ln Conscration of the
American
Spirit (New York: Basic Books, 1976), pp.
Quarterly journal oj Speech, 58 (1972), 396-407;
]7],170.
Walter R. Fisher, "Rhetorical Fiction and the Presi-
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invariably invoking God or using adjectives like "divine" and "sacred," sport
apologists align themselves with the god
terms of the team sport ethic.22
T H E GENERAL ETHIC OF TEAM
SPORT
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Because the concept of winning dominates the team sport ethic, at times, acts
that would indicate bad character in the
world at large are judged neither evil nor
wicked by the fans. In late October of
1978, for example, Bart Starr, then
coach and general manager of the Green
Bay Packers, allowed running back
Duane Thomas to try out for the team.
According to National Football League
rules, a player is entitled to a twentyfour hour try-out at club expense, but
Thomas was in Green Bay for a week.
When he was asked about the situation
at a press conference, Starr stated, " 'I
can't make him (Thomas] leave town.
We can't tell him he can't be here if he
just wants to continue working out on
his own.' "^^ After he admitted to the
and drug abuse seem to contradict tbe belief that sports
huild character, both Welch and Porter were characterized by the press as "courageous" for facing their
problems. See John Hall, "Alcoholism Goes Down
Swinging," Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 1980, Sec. 3, p.
1, cols. 1-6; p. 6, col. 1; and "Loneliness Drove Porter
to Alcohol," Des Moines Register, 19 June 1980, Sec. S,
p. IS, col. 5; p. 2S, col. 5.
^^Dave Begel, "Thomas Incident Leaves Starr
Fuming," Mitwautiee journat, 31 Oct. 1978, Sec. 2, p.
8, cols. 1-4.
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Starr's remarks] as villains and traitors."5"' Within the world of team sport,
deeds that may appear to be morally
reprehensible are sometimes tolerated
and may even be encouraged when they
are undertaken for the good of the team.
The rationale for the fans' sanctioning
Starr's conduct can be better understood
if one takes into consideration Huizinga's distinction between the cheat and
the spoil-sport. Huizinga claims that
society is much more lenient toward the
cheat because the cheat "pretends to be
playing the game, and, on the face of it,
still acknowledges the magic circle," but
the spoil-sport "shatters the play-world
itself. By withdrawing from the game,
he reveals the relativity and fragility of
the play-world in which he had temporarily shut himself with others."5'
In the world of team sport, spoilsports are those who endanger the reality of the game. They threaten the sport
community and its fans by denying the
constructed reality or the significance of
the sport world. Cheats, however, cheat
to win. Despite the lip service most fans
pay to the precepts of sportsmanship and
fair play, if individuals "bend the rules"
to secure advantages or to counter disadvantages, and if their conduct is not too
blatant, they are unlikely to be criticized
by those who follow their teams.^^
Consequently, sport personalities who
cheat are unlikely to be called upon by
the fans to make public apologiae, even
though the media and other teams'
followers might label their conduct "immoral."
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CONVENTIONS OF THE DISCOURSE
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involved as "just something that happened." He did not identify the circumstances that led to his need for a character defense; in his televised statement, he
did not mention oversleeping or his failure to telephone Landry.
Templeton, too, failed to elaborate.
He asserted that his remarks during the
radio interview had been made "in the
heat of anger." He also suggested that
his anger had been provoked by newspersons who asked about his contract.
However, he did not explain, as he
might have, why he became angry about
questions relating to his contract when
the interviewer had made a statement
about Templeton's unwillingness to play
in St. Louis. He did not indicate why he
thought the media continued to press
him about his contract when he had
revealed that his contract was not a
problem. He might have justified his
anger by including specific examples of
the "many times" he attempted to clarify
the matter for reporters.
Griffith's explanations for his conduct
were equally underdeveloped. Although
he claimed that he had been drinking
and was trying to be funny, he also
accused reporters of quoting him out of
context. He might have provided the
complete context in which he had made
his statements, but he did not. He indicated that some of his colleagues had
suggested he bring legal action, but he
did not name these people. Like the
others, he asserted more than he argued.
The lack of development one sees in
sport personalities' apologiae seems to be
due to two factors.'"' First, by the time
^Some sport figures do offer complex, detailed eharacter defenses. For example, on August 12, 1978, Jack
Tatum, then of the Oakland Raiders, tackled Darryl
Stingley during an exhibition game. Stingley was left
paralyzed from the waist down. Tatutn wrote a book in
which he explained what happened to Stingley,
defended his aggressive playing style, and presented
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